When I was a child in my father’s home
before I was presented at the temple
in the days when Joazar the priest
would have sold us for peace
Judas the Galilean resented
such subjection to the hated ways of Rome
Some say he was a brigand when he raided
a palace & armoury & carried away the gold
After his death his insurrection faded

At first I found another to follow from Galilee
for I was bold to smother the Gentile breath
we breathe He told us he came to bring a sword
between brothers but it became a spiritual flame
His authority out-burned the Pharisees
for by his own name he cast out demons
I took on a new zeal far more real
with true connection to Israel’s consolation
For this cause I’d even be sawn in two

This poem is part of an upcoming collection, Ampersand. Please visit www.dsmartin.cafor more information about this and D.S. Martin’s other published works.

D.S. Martin is the author of three poetry collections 'Conspiracy of Light: Poems Inspired by the Legacy of C.S. Lewis' (Cascade), 'Poiema' (Wipf & Stock), and the chapbook 'So The Moon Would Not Be Swallowed' (Rubicon). His poems have appeared in such publications as Canadian Literature, The Christian Century, Dalhousie Review, and Queen's Quarterly. He is the Series Editor for the Poiema Poetry Series from Cascade Books, and the editor of the new anthology, The Turning Aside. He and his wife live in Brampton, Ontario; they have two sons.